Stopper.



J/ZL/ M@ No. 665,869.v Patented lan. I5, I90I.

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(Appxiaeipn med Apr. 3o, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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lllllll NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. BRISCO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,869, dated January 15, 1901. Application filed April 30, 1900. Serial No. 14,894. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. Brusco, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stoppers, of which the following is a specication.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the stopper described in my United States Patent No. 623,304, dated April 18, 1899. The stopper described in said patent was devised particularly for use with bottles of common construction to render them proof against reiilling, and there is employed in connection therewith adisintegrable tablet (or its equivalent) which when acted upon by liquid commonly releases a valve-closing spring.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide means for sealing securely when the stopper is closed the mutable or unstable body employed at the connection between valve and stem, whereby vapor from any liquid remaining above the valve after pouring and vapor from the air itself in countries where there is high humidity are prevented from aecting said body.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical section of a fragment of a bottle-,neck equipped with my improved stopper in preferred form; Fig. 2, a bottom plan view of a valve-guard employed, showing cams thereon for engaging lugs on a valvestem passing therethrough; Fig. 8, a plan view of a loose valve-section employed; Fig. 4, a view in side elevation of a valve-closing spring, a disintegrable tablet, and a holder therefor; Figs. 5 and 6, sections at the corresponding lines of Fig. l; Fig. 7, a vertical sectional view illustrating the connecting means between the lower end of the valve-stem and a portion of a telescoping easing; Fig. 8, a view in side elevation of the valve-stem and the operating-handle therefor; and Fig. 9, a section similar to Fig. l, showing a modification.

A represents a portion of a bottle-neck; B, a valve-guard provided with a central valvestem-receiving perforation ot, a lower bottleneck-receiving flange a, an upper flange c2, affording a circular recess or depression a3, a central annular flange 0.4, projecting into the cavity a3, and liquid-discharge perforations or orifices 01.5,' B', a supplemental valve-guard provided with a central perforation b, a lower surface recess b', receiving the flange a4, and peripheral half-circular perforations b2; C, a valve-stem provided at its upper end with a ribbed enlargement c, fitting within the recess a3, above said enlargement c with an operating disk or handle c', below said enlargement c with half-circular cams c2, and at its lower extremity with lugs o3; D, a valve-stem extension provided with a vertical flange d, having recesses d', a horizontal flange d2, having perforations d3, and a depending ange d4, provided internally with a lug d5 and externally with lugs d6; D', a movable sleeve-section rigidly fixed or cemented at its lower end to the flange d4, which it receives; D2, a nonmovable sleeve-section securely cemented to a flange e on the lower surface of thev valveguard B and projecting into the sleeve-section D'; E, a valve-section provided on its upper surface with a recess f, a ange f', projecting into the liange Z4 of the valve-stem extension D, and a circumferential shoulder f2, receiving a gasketfi' and provided on its lower surface with a lug or key f4 of angular cross-section; E', a valve-section provided on its upper surface with a recess g ofproper cross-section to receive the key f4 and provided on its lower surface with a valve-seatcontacting projection g; Gr, a valve-seat, of cork or other suitable material, provided with a central perforation h, and H a spring-metal valve-spring retainer connecting the valvesection E to the valve-stem extension D.

The spring-retainer H is preferably of sheet metal, comprising a bottom la, upward-projeeting supporting-arms Za', and valve-engaging arms k2. The arms lr are bent, as shown, to afford retaining-shoulders Z and enlargements Z for receiving a disintegrable tablet Z2 and a coil-spring Z3. The tablet Z2 holds the arms la expanded, so that the shoulders Z will engage internal shoulders m on the sleeve d. The spring Z3 surrounds the lower portion of the retainer H, being held in place and normally out of action by shoulders thereon, as indicated. When the tablet Z2 dissolves or is removed, the spring is freed, the shoulders Z are freed from engagement with the shoulders m, and the`spring,eXpanding, forces the valvesection E down out of the valve-stem eXten- IOO sion D, thereby causing the valve-section E to be firmly pressed to its seat.

Flanking the perforation a of the valveguard B are upper cams n, which coact with the cams c2 of the valve-stem to cause the valve-to rise when the stem is rotated to the left; Directly beneath the cams fn, and on the valve-guard B are lower cams it', with which the lugs d on the val ve-stem extension e-ngage, whereby the valve-stem is lowered when rotated to the right. Flanking the perforations a', and dividing the members on each set of cams from each other are slots n2, which serve to permit the introduction of the valvestem from above.

The bottle-neck is of sucient size to afford an annular channel p, leading to an annular recess p in the valve-guard and in communication with the perforations a5. Thus when the valve is raised, by turning the valve-stem to the left a passage for liquid to the perforations 0,5 is afforded. The outer margin of the lower surface of the supplemental valve-guard B is raised above the bottom of the recess d3, whereby passage is afforded from the open` ings a5 to the half-circular perforations b2, from whence the liquid is free to pass the vertical ribs on the enlargement c of the Valvestern C. The upper surface of the supplemental guard B slopes downwardly and outwardly from the central valve-stem perforation, whereby any liquid caught by the flange a2 in turning the bottle to vertical position after pouring is directed back to the perforations a5. A gasket q is provided between the enlargement or shoulder c and the adjacent surface of the supplemental guard B'. The

valve-stem C tapers from top to bottom,where by when the valve is in its elevated position a central passage is provided from the recess* as to the interiorfof the extensible housing afforded by the sleeve-sections D and D2. The supplemental guard B is securely cemented to the guard B, and when the valve-stem is in its lowest position this central passage is closed and the extensible casing for the mutable body is hermetically sealed. In the 0peration of pouring no liquid can pass through central opening when the bottle is brought to an upright position after pouring. Should the valve-stem be raised and an effortI made to refill the bottle, the recess a3 will be filled above the supplemental guard B and liquid will pour into the extensible housing through A the passage described and pass through the perforation d2 into the tablet-chamber. Upon contacting with liquid the tablet is quickly dissolved, the valve-spring being thereby released and allowed to operate to force the valve to its seat. v

The construction shown in Fig. 9 is similar to the construction described, the tablet Z2, spring Z3, and spring-retainer II being replaced, however, by a body I of compressed sponge or other material of a nature to be affected by liquid. In this construction the V,thereby disconnected from the stem.

valve-stem extension D receives the upper portion of the body I directly, while the recess f of the valve-section E receives the lower end thereof directly. When the body I is dry and comparatively firm, it serves to lock the i valve-section E to the stein extension D; but

when the unstable body is affected by moisture its hold is released upon the interior surface with which it contacts, and the valve is The operation in this case differs from the operation in the former case in that the valve after detachment from the stem is not held firmly to its seat, the looseness of the valvesection E serving to expose the fact* that the stopper has been tampered with.

The function of the valve-section E' is to prevent liquid from being poured or forced into the bottle while the latter is at an angle. The key f4 serves when the valve-stem is rotated to loosen the valve-stem E from its seat.

It will be understood that the guard B is to be welded or cemented firmly to the bottle-neck, cement r being shown for the purpose. The form of the guard may be variously modified.

The improved means for protecting the unstable body from liquid or vapor contact except under the conditions specified is claimed wherever applicable.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a stopper, the combination of a valveguard, a valvestem,a valve, a mutable body forming a connecting portion between valve and stem, and an extensible housing inclosing and protecting said body and operated by said valve-stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a stopper, the combination of a valveguard provided with a central perforation, a valve-stem extending through said perfora- 4 tion, a valve, a mutable body forming a connecting portion between valve and stem, and a housing inclosing said body from liquid con- 1 tact, except by way of said central perforation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. this central opening, nor can liquid enter the E 3. In a bottle-stopper, the combination of a valve-guard having a central perforation,

a valve-stem extendingtherethrough, avalve, a mutable body forming a connecting portion between valve and stem, a sleeve-section carried by said stein and inclosing said body, and a` sleeve-section depending from the valveguard and telescoping with said first-named sleeve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a bottle-stopper, the combination of a valve-guard having a central perforation, a valve-stem extending therethrough, a valve provided on its upper side with a recess, a valve-,stein extension provided on its lower side with a recess, a mutable body supported in said recesses and forming a connecting portion between valve-stem extension and valve, andan extensible housing for said ICO body having liquid tight joint with said valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a bottle-stopper, `the combination of a valve-guard, a valve-stem working therethrough, a valve-stem extension provided with a recess and with perforations leading thereto from above, a detachable valve, a mutable body supported from said recess and forming a connection between valve-stem extension and valve, and an extensible housing having liquid-tight connections with valve and valve-guard and inclosing said valvestem extension, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

b. In a bottle-stopper, the combination of a valve-guard having an uppersurface recess, a central perforation and flanking pouringorifices, a supplemental guard in said recess and having a central perforation registering with said irst-named central perforation and provided with asloping surface, a Valve-stern, a packing-ring surrounding said stem and bearing on said supplemental guard, means for raising` and lowering the guard, a valve, a mutable body connecting valve and valvestem, and an extensible housing inclosing said body and having liquid-tight connections with valve-guard and valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a bottle-neck, of a valve-seat therein, a valve-section seated thereon having an angular recess on its upper surface, a valve`gua1d,a valve-stem working therethrough, and a valve-section supported by said stem and having an angular projection engaging the recessof said firstnamed section, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The ,combination of a valve-guard, a valve-stem extending through the saine, upper and lower cams on said guard, cams on said stem engaging the upper cams of the guard and serving to raise the stem when the latter is rotated .in one direction, lugs on said stem engaging the lower cam and serving to lower the stem when the latter is rotated in the opposite direction, and a detachable valve carried by said stem, substantially as and for th'e purpose set forth.

9. rlhe combination of a valve-guard, a valve-stem working therethrough, a valvestem extension provided with a recess, a spring-retainer provided with one set of arms engaging the walls of one of said recesses and with another set of arms engaging the walls of the other recess, a mutable body serving to hold one set of arms expanded, a valvespring normally held against action by said retainer, and a housing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES N. BRISCO.

In presence of- D. W. LEE, A. D. BACCI. 

